Agri damage due to Bising reaches P45.93M —DA

Typhoon Bising, which wreaked havoc over the eastern regions of the country, brought at least P45.93 million worth of damage to the crops sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday.

Citing initial reports, DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM-OpCen) said the total damage and losses incurred due to the typhoon in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas affected 765 farmers with 1,599 hectares of agricultural areas and volume of production loss at 3,009 metric tons. 

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, assorted vegetables & fruits and livestock,” the DA-DRMM-OpCen said.

The said values are still subject to validation, it said.

Despite the damage and losses, the agency said that due to the early advisory of DA issued prior to the entry of "Bising,” a total area of 14,589 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions V, VIII and XIII with an equivalent production of 59,543 metric tons amounting to P1.08 billion.

As for corn, the DA-DRRM-OpCen said a total of 534 hectares have been harvested from Region V and VIII with an equivalent production of 1,411 metric tons amounting to P18.20 million

The Agriculture department said the following assistance are available to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the typhoon:

• Rice seeds (18,478 bags), corn seeds (12,530 bags) and assorted vegetable seeds (1,640 kgs) from Regions II, IV-A, V, VIII, and XIII
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs
• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC)
• Available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers

“The DA-DRRM Operations Center will continuously provide updates regarding TY "Bising,” it said. -MDM, GMA News